Jabra Enhance Select 500 vs Jabra Enhance Select 700

The Jabra Enhance Select 500 is a premium behind-the-ear OTC hearing aid priced at $1,995 that earns an A grade with a SoundScore of 4.2/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 13% of the 63 OTC hearing aids we've evaluated, earning Expert's Choice recognition in both 2023 and 2024. In our testing, the Enhance Select 500 demonstrates strong speech clarity in quiet environments, scoring 4.0/5—a full 1.36 points above the OTC category average of 2.64. Speech in noise performance scores 1.8/5, which is above the category average of 1.13 but remains low in absolute terms, reflecting a common challenge across OTC devices. Feedback handling is excellent at 4.6/5, providing stable performance during movement. Music streaming quality scores 2.9/5, nearly a full point above the category average of 1.93, though still mixed in absolute terms. Own-voice comfort is a relative weakness at 2.2/5, falling 0.29 points below the category average. The device supports both iPhone and Android streaming with hands-free functionality and uses rechargeable batteries. Within the same price tier, competitors like the Lucid Tala (4.59/5) and Audicus Omni 2 (4.30/5) score higher. Shoppers seeking similar sound quality may also consider Jabra's own Enhance Select 300 or the Lucid Engage at lower price points. The Enhance Select 500 is best suited for users prioritizing speech clarity in quieter settings and reliable wireless streaming who prefer a premium OTC option with professional support options.

The Jabra Enhance Select 700 is a premium-priced OTC hearing aid available for $1,795, earning a B grade with a SoundScore of 3.9/5 in our lab testing. This places it in the top 24% of OTC hearing aids tested, ranking #16 of 63 devices in the category. In our testing, this behind-the-ear device demonstrated notable strengths in own-voice comfort, scoring 3.7/5—a solid result that sits 1.21 points above the category average. This suggests users may experience less of the "talking in a barrel" sensation common with some hearing aids. Feedback handling was excellent at 5.0/5, indicating strong resistance to whistling during typical daily movements. Speech clarity presents a mixed picture. Speech in quiet environments scored a solid 3.1/5, which is 0.46 points above the category average. However, speech in noise scored just 0.8/5, falling 0.33 points below average—a notable limitation for users who frequently encounter noisy environments like restaurants or social gatherings. Music streaming scored 2.5/5, above the category average but only mixed in absolute terms. At this price point, buyers should note that several alternatives in the same price range delivered higher overall scores in our testing, including the Jabra Enhance Select 300 and 500 models. The Enhance Select 700 may appeal to those prioritizing own-voice comfort and feedback-free performance, but users needing strong speech-in-noise performance should consider alternatives.